Improvement in traveling-trunks



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY LOEYVENBERG, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRAVELlNG-TRUNKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 16,336, dated January 6, 1857.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY LOEWENBERG, of New York, county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Construction of Trunks by which their General Capacity is Increased; and I hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof. Y

The natureof my invention consists in constructing the top, bottom, and walls of the trunk in duplicate form, so that one part will slide upon another and allow the trunk to be extended in all directions.

To enable others to make and use my invention, I proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the drawings hereunto annexed and making part of this specification.

Figure l is a view showing the trunk turned up on the bottom edge to show the interior; Fig. 2, a perspective of the trunkin its smallest extension and with the coverturned back Fig. 3, a perspective showing the trunk When extended to its full size and closed; Fig. 4, a longitudinal vertical section, and Fig. 5 a transverse section.

Ordinarily I make the trunk extensible in its length and height, but not in its width, though the same principle will enable me to extend it also in that direction. That portion which constitutes the top and bottom and two sides of the trunk when contracted, as in Fig. 2, forms the middle part only of the same sides, top, and bottom when Ithe trunk is extended. Connected with the ends are the inner portions, upon which are tongues A, Figs. l and 5, sliding into'grooves B. The tongued portions meet in the middle and form the inside surfaces of the sides, top, and bottom. Upon the ends of the trunk as contracted I hinge the portions N and O, which serve to enlarge the trunk in the direction of its height. The portions L and M serve the same purpose for the front and rear or to cover the trunk when the top part (as seen turned back in Fig. 2) is omitted.

To fasten the trunk in any position when extended, I use plates E at the bottom of the trunk inside. Upon this plates under side are pins R, Fig. 4 shutting down into holes I. The plate with its pins is secured down by a rod H sliding into a staple. The top part of the trunk, constituting its cover, and

seen turned back in Fig. 2, has four hinges in the form of hooks, (see S, Fig. 2,) which hook into eyes T. (See Fig. l.) Two ot' the hinges are in the permanent central portion L and two in the sliding portions at the corners. another set ot the eyes T, into which the hooks are set.

To operate this trunk to extend it, I open it and take ot'f the cover, releasing the hookhinges from the eyes. I llift up the front and rear portions L and M from where they are shown, Fig. 2, and then raise the end pieces N and O up to a perpendicular, when they will strike against the clasps P and be held firm in place by catch-springs O inside the trunk. The rods II upon the bottom are then drawn out from the staples, releasing the plates E, Which rise by force of the spring and raise out the pins R from the holes I. The trunk can then be extended to about double its length by drawing apart. The cover is extended in a similar manner. The screw-pins G are loosened and the two ends drawn apart to the requisite extent and the screw again set tightto hold all rm. The slide of the cover is made by metallic strips F, having slots in which the screw-pin slides. The bottom being secured by pressing down the pins R into the holesI and securing them by the rod H, the whole extension is conipleted. The cover is hooked on and shut, and the trunk in that position is as secure and as strong as when contracted. The trunk can be extended a little in the direction of its length as Well as the whole extent. If the holes I at the bottom are set half au inch apart the trunk can be extended as little in its length as half an inch. The screw-pin G will set the cover at any amount of its extension.

VVhatlI claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the folding portions L M N O with the grooves and tongues AB and the fastenings to make an extensible trunk, in the manner substantially as above described.

HENRY LOEVENBERG.

Witnesses:

OWEN G. WARREN, ADOLPH S. LARNIER.

Then the trunkis contracted, there is 

